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Reviewed by:
  • The Perfect Plan by Leah Gilbert
  • Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor
Gilbert, Leah The Perfect Plan; written and illus. by Leah Gilbert. Bloomsbury,
2021 [40 p]
Trade ed. ISBN 9781547605262 $17.99
E-book ed ISBN 9781547605286 $12.59
Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-6 yrs

Dreaming of an incredible tree fort, Maya dutifully researches, carefully plans, and then finally heads out into the forest with all her supplies in tow to find the perfect spot. She's all set until she realizes the best fort-building branches aren't easy to cut down. Not to be defeated, she asks her friends the beavers for some assistance, and they eagerly agree. The resulting logs, however, are too heavy to lift into the trees; not to worry, though, since the moose can help with that, and the bears offer to bend and balance the frame, and the birds weave it securely together. When a storm rolls in, however, will their newly built structure hold? This quietly fantastical tale has two stealthy and very real messages for youngsters, the first that it's a good idea to ask for help (though not necessarily from woodland creatures), and the second that plans have a way of changing. The text has a subtle rhythm, with Maya's requests for help echoing in structure but changing words for each animal (she tells the moose she's building the "strongest and sturdiest" fort, and to the bears the "comfiest and coziest" one). While the forest's dappling hues of greens and browns occasionally muddle together, the illustrations balance whimsy with action as Maya directs her team of forest critters through the pages in their various tasks, and the book closes with a splendid reveal of the fort, sparkling and flowering from the rain. [End Page 425]

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